Save the Date: Key Health-Law Deadlines to Watch

After a bumpy first two months, the Obama administration is delaying some Affordable Care Act deadlines. Here’s a look at some key dates ahead:

Dec. 1: The administration has said it expects the HealthCare.gov website to function for the “vast majority” or at least a majority of Americans by this date. That’s two months after the site’s fumbled Oct. 1 debut.

Small employers will have a new tool to browse plan options on HealthCare.gov, but they won’t be able to buy plans until sometime in 2014.

Dec. 23: People have until this date to sign up for health plans that take effect Jan. 1, the administration said Friday. Previously the sign-up deadline was Dec. 15.

Jan. 1, 2014: The health law fully goes into effect on this date. It is the earliest start date for policies sold under the law’s new insurance exchanges.

Late January: Officials say they expect key back-office functions of the new health-insurance marketplace to be finished by this time. Henry Chao, a top official at the agency developing HealthCare.gov, said this week that about 30% of the marketplace—mainly functions like transferring government subsidies to insurers for lower-income enrollees—has yet to be completed.

March 31: This is the final date for open enrollment in the insurance exchanges. People who sign up for qualifying coverage by this date don’t have to pay a tax penalty for the 2014 tax year, the administration said in late October. Previously, some had calculated that the deadline to avoid a penalty would come as early as mid-February.

May-June: Insurers set rates for 2015 policies around this time. The administration hopes they won’t raise prices too much.

Nov. 15: Open enrollment for 2015 plans begins. Previously it was set to begin Oct. 15 but the administration said this week it was pushing back the date by a month. People will have until Jan. 15, 2015, to sign up.

About Washington Wire

Washington Wire is one of the oldest standing features in American journalism. Since the Wire launched on Sept. 20, 1940, the Journal has offered readers an informal look at the capital. Now online, the Wire provides a succession of glimpses at what’s happening behind hot stories and warnings of what to watch for in the days ahead. The Wire is led by Reid J. Epstein, with contributions from the rest of the bureau. Washington Wire now also includes Think Tank, our home for outside analysis from policy and political thinkers.